Are you like me and enjoy a good read? Speaking for myself I look for a good story line which keeps me turning the pages. Characters I can relate to and a good narrator's voice. As long as I can understand what's happening I'm not too fussed about the grammar and I soon get bored if there is a lot of unnecessary descriptive detail. So my reviews reflect these criteria.
I have just finished reading "I'll Never Get out of This World Alive," By Steve Earle.
· I believe Steve has set out to let us, his readers know. Those who for whatever reason have taken to prostitution, thievery or other antisocial activities to feed addictions to drugs, gambling and other vices are still able to retain a basic human goodness and concern for others. Also, given encouragement and faith they are able to let this goodness be the means to climb back and rebuild lives.
· The story line, which kept me turning pages, has a central character Doc who has lost his license, is hooked on morphine and is constantly harassed by a ghost from his past. The good Doc who in spite of his addiction is humane and compassionate, carries on an illegal medical practice as he struggles to exist and feed his addiction. His circle of, "Friends," drug dealers, street girls and gamblers all hustling and all dependent on each other as they drift on to an uncertain future. Then one day a young Mexican girl, Graciela joins the circle as an abortion patient and everything slowly but surely changes as members of the circle start to break away to make a new life. Until eventually the circle is broken with an explosive climax.
· I found I could relate to the main character Doc and also to some extent to Graciela. The other characters although sketchy were substantial enough to play their part. The narrator's voice led me seamlessly from event to event.
· Descriptive detail was not overdone and I didn't find myself bored and skipping paragraphs. At no time did I have to reread a sentence to get its meaning so I guess the grammar meets my criteria.
· This is a book which I found entertaining and left me very much aware of how others can lead worthwhile lives in spite of the circumstances in which they find themselves. Certainly a good read and worth four stars.
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